Brake-beam.



No. 691,096. Patented Jan. l4, I902.

J. H. BAKER.

BRAKE BEAM.

(Application filed Oct. 21, 1901,)

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N0. 69|,096. Patented lan. l4, I902.

J. H. BAKER.

BRAKE BEAM.

lication filed Oct. 21 1901 (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2i 6%1nsssss: E r V I I Atty lliirnn dramas ATENT rricm JAMES H. BAKER, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO .IAS. H.

BAKER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

BRAKE-BEAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,096, dated January 14, 1902. Application filed October 21, 1901- Serial No. 79,400. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES H. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Brake-Beams, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to IO certain improvements in the form or construction of truss brake-beams forming the subject-matter of application Serial No. 72,346, filed by me August 17, 1901.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a plan view of a brake-beam embodyinga form of my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 show an end and a sectional elevation illustrating the construction of Figs. 1 and 2 as applied to an angularly-shaped compression member, the plane of section of Fig. 4 corresponding to the line 1V IV, Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 are plan and sectional elevations, respectively, of another modification of the improvements. Figs. 7 and 8 are edge and plan views of a further modification of the improved beam, and Fig.

50 9 is a detail view of a modification of the construction shown in Figs. '7 and 8.

It has heretofore been customary to em ploy a single rod as the tension member of a truss brake-beam; but such construction is objec- 5 tionable, as the ends of the tension member cannot be secured to the compression member without passing through the latter or withoutamultiplication of parts. Both methods are objectionable, the first as the com- 40 pression member is weakened, and the second as the labor and expense of manufacture and maintenance are greatly increased. It has been attempted to form the tension member of two rods; but as in the forms employed 5 the strains on the rods could not be equalized; both rods were made of suflicient size to take the entire strain, thereby increasing the weight and expense of the beam to an undesirable degree.

In the practice of myinvention Iemploy a tension member having at least the end portions formed in two parts or sections adapted to extend along opposite sides of the end portions of the compression member and be secured to or bear upon anchor-plates, which in turn will bear against the end of the compression member. In connection with such divided tension member I employ a suitable construction whereby the strains on the two parts are equalized, thereby rendering it pos- 6o sible to so reduce the transverse dimensions of the two parts that their tensional strength will be approximately equal to one-half of the tensional strength required in the truss.

While the compression member is shown as tubular in cross-section, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that it may be of any desired crosssectional shape. The tension member is formed by two rods 2, connected to each other at one end by a straintransmitting portion 2, which in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is formed integral with the two parts of the tension member. The bearing-plates 3 and 4., through which the strain on the tension member is transmitted to the compression member, are preferably formed integral with the sockets 6, formed on the brakeshoe heads 7 for the reception of the ends of the compression member.

One of the bearing-plates, as 8, is provided with a saddle 8, having the portion on which the portion 2 of the tension member bears curved in a direction transversely of the com-v pression member to an arc of a circle whose radius should be greater than the diameter of portion 2 so that when a greater-tension is applied to one of the rods than to the other the portion 2 may be moved in the direction of its axis along the saddle, so that each portion of the tension member will be subjected to an equal strain. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the bearing-plate Iis provided with flanges 9, which extend beyond the side walls of the socket 6, and through these flanges pass the threaded ends of rods forming the tension 5 member, to which the required tension or strain is applied by means of nuts 10. It is preferred to form on the sockets 6 guidestrain-transmitting portions 2.

flanges 11, through which the legs of the tension member will pass. This portion, how ever, is not necessary. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that when the nuts 10 are tightened up it would be impossible to apply the same strain when in use to both legs if provision were not made for transmitting the pull on one rod to the other by permitting the portion 2 to move-in an axial direction along the saddle.

In Figs. 3 and 41 have shown an I-beam as forming the compression member of the truss, the shape of the sockets 6 being changed in contour to fit over the ends of such structurally-shaped compression member. respects the construction is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the tension member is formed in three sections-t. a, a middle portion 2", having eyes 16 at its ends,and the strain-transmitting portions 2*,connecting the rods 2,passiug through the eyes 16 of the central portion. The outer ends of the rods 2 extend along opposite sides of the sockets 6 and through the flanges or lateral extensions'on the bearing-plates 3 and 4. In this construction the transmission of strains between the rods 2 of the tension member is effected by a movement of the portions 2 in an axial direction through the eyes 16. In this construction it is preferred to interpose bearing or saddles 17 between the end and central members,so as to prevent a collapsing of one portion upon the other, as shown.

In the construction shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9 the tension member is formed in two sections, each consisting of two rods 2, the inner ends of the rods of each section being connected by These sections interlock with each other at their closed ends, while the outer ends of the rods extend along opposite sides of the compression memberand pass through ears or extensions on both of the bearing-plates 3 and 4 at the ends of the compression member. In such construction the strutis provided with oppositelyextending arms 18, so as to support the two links or sections of the tension member on opposite sides of their interlocking portions. These two transmitting portions 2 are bent to such a curvature-2'. e., on the arc of a circle greater than the diameter thereofthat they will when unequal tension is applied to the rods slipin an axial direction through each other, thereby equalizing the strain on both. As shown in Fig. 9, it is preferred to interpose a bearing-block 17* between the closed ends of the links forming the tension mem- In other ber, so as to prevent the sides from collaps- 6o ing one upon the other, and thereby preventing the axial movement necessary for equalization of strains.

It is characteristic of my improveme nt that the portions of the tension member are so constructed that at least those portions adjacent to the ends of the compression member pass on opposite sides of the compression member and are secured to an anchor-plate bearing against the compression member and that means are employed whereby a strain on one portion of the tension member is transmitted to another portion, thereby dividing the strains with at least approximate equality between different parts of the tension member.

While I have shown and described several forms or embodiments of my improvement, other forms or embodiments thereof will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention; Hence as regards the broad terms of the claims I do not limit myself to the particular forms or constructions shown and described.

I claim herein as my invention 1. A brake-beam having in combination a compression member, a strut, a tension member consisting of two rods, brake-shoe heads arranged on the compression member,anchorplates formed integral with the brake-shoe heads, one of said plates being provided with ears extending beyond the sides of the compression member, and the other plate being provided with a curved seat or saddle, and a strain-transmitting portion formed integral with the rods at one end of the compression member and bearing against the saddle, substantially as set forth.

2. A brake-beam having in combination a compression member, a strut, a tension member consisting of two rods, brake-shoe heads arranged on the compression member,anchorplates interposed between the tension and compression members, and provided with ears extending beyond the sides of the compression member and forming bearings for the tightening-nuts, and means for transmit-- ting strains from one part of the tension member to another part thereof, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES H. BAKER.

Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WOLCOTT, F. E. GAITHER. 

